7" Yellow Vinyl!

Brookside Records is at it again!

Following up on a number of successful releases in 2021, Brookside & Philly Groove team up with the Legendary Paul Simpson (The Paul Simpson Connection, Serious Intention, Simphouse Records) to breathe new life into a classic First Choice cut……

“The First Choice Theme”

Originally released in 1976 on Philly Groove, the track was picked up by Warner Bros in the U.S. and they quickly issued a now sought after promo 12” with “First Choice Theme”, “Ain’t He Bad” & “Let Us Entertain You”.

On this fresh, limited edition yellow vinyl 7” Simpson works the track with his talents using the skills he learned by working beside legends like Tom Moulton and Vince Montana to strip the track down and let the fabulous rhythm section shine through. Giving breaks where needed but keeping the track dancer friendly and only using the best parts for this 7” mix.

The B side Simpson works his magic again with a different but similar more instrumental version… More

A1 - Armed And Extremely Dangerous (Ralphi Rosario & Craig J. Snider Disco Mix)
A2 - Armed And Extremely Dangerous (Ralphi Rosario & Craig J. Snider Dub Mix)
B1 - Love And Happiness (“A Mike Maurro Remix”)

Coming next on the Brookside imprint is a double sided, colour vinyl 12” banger featuring two new versions of First Choice’s epic “Armed and Extremely Dangerous” reworked and dubbed out by none other than Hot Mix 5 & Chicago House legend Ralphi “The Raz” Rosario.

Ralphi returns to Brookside and updates the track with a brilliant reworking on the drums and vocals, while adding a soulful keyboard track to give it an updated feel. Flip it over to the B Side and we have a new version of “Love & Happiness” remixed from the original multi track tapes by NY DJ/Remixer Mike Maurro who takes the track to over 10 minutes with instrumental extensions and beefed up drums keeping it respectful to the original as always.

Produced by and dedicated to the late legendary Reid Whitelaw.

Release Date: 31st July (Subject To Change)
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A1 - Smarty Pants (DJ Spinna Re Freak)
A2 - Smarty Pants (Original Single Version)
B1 - Are You Ready For Me? (Uplifting Version)
B2 - Are You Ready For Me? (Original Version)

Brookside return with two killer edits of a pair of signature First Choice cuts from Brooklyn legend DJ Spinna and Tokyo edit wiz T-Groove.

These DJ friendly versions of ‘Smarty Pants’ & ‘Are You Ready For Me?’ maintain all the essence of the originals yet rework them for the modern dancefloor. Backed with the original versions giving you maximum choice in the mix. More

DJ Pope from Chicago has remixed Love Thang by Iconic Salsoul Records girl group First Choice. Lead singer Rochelle Flemming is still touring internationally and singing the groups classics that have stood the test of time, Love Thang being one of them. DJ Pope has made a mark in the soulful house scene and brings his skills to this record for release on Salsoul Records. Featuring funky saxophones, the remix offers a contemporary, progressive take on the original that is sure to get dancefloors moving this summer. More

House music royalty right here! Brookside Music enlist Chicago’s Ralphi Rosario, founding member of the influential Hot Mix 5, to work his magic on First Choice’s ‘Ain’t He Bad’, with an extended disco mix and a reprise dub, alongside the original version.
The extended disco mix kicks things off with a DJ friendly, beefier, quantized drum pattern, echoed vocal refrains and heavenly swooping pads for a touch of Rosario style and added atmosphere. A refreshing update to this classic, purpose built to blast out on big systems worldwide.
Next up, Rosario offers a reprise dub adding spiritual stabs to the original piano, as First Choice’s whispers feed in and tension building strings gather momentum. Gradually elements of the percussion are added before the full force of the beat takes hold. The vocals, for the most part, are left to those delicate “Ain’t He Bad” phrases and rising harmonies, letting the expert instrumentation and arrangement sing. Another sure-fire, hands-in-the-air staple for the locker.

Last but not least, the original First Choice version completes the package, offering a third and final way to light up the dancefloor this summer.
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A First Choice classic, ‘Love Freeze’, gets the DJ Spinna treatment turning the soul-laden 6-minute 1975 version into a near 10-minute disco soiree which has never before been on vinyl.
It’s a delicate task taking on productions of this quality, yet Spinna stays true to the ’75 version tweaking it for the modern-day dancefloor - upping the tempo, adding an accapella intro before the subtly beefed drums drop alongside that majestic horn section. Graceful touches and reverberating echoes enhance choice phrases and breakdowns, added passages are weaved in backed with cosmic swirls, as Spinna expertly manages to extend the feelgood fire this First Choice classic commands.
With the original long version on flip, the choice is yours!
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Written by one of the seminal figures of the Philly Sound - Norman Harris, The Player is arguably one of the groups greatest records.
On the flip, NYC DJ & producer Mike Maurro respectfully remixes the original.
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12 track vinyl compilation featuring the roots of modern dance music, on 180g heavyweight double LP. P&P was producer and Harlem hustler Peter Brown’s production company. He created some of the greatest moments in underground African American dance music, across a handful of labels in the 70s and 80s. Due to his independent ethos his releases on imprints such as Heavenly Star, Sound Of New York, La Shawn, P&P and others would often disappear after a single low numbered pressing making them incredible hard to find on original pressing. Tracks such as Mary Clarke’s ‘Take Me I’m Yours’, and the Fosters Jackson Group’s ‘Feel The Spirit’ have been championed by DJs such as Floating Points and Dimitri from Paris. Whilst the sheer rarity of some singles such as Clyde Alexander and Sanction’s ‘Got To Get Your Love’ and Louise Murray’s ‘Let’s Just Stay Away’ would set you back multiple hundreds of pounds to buy on original copies. More